White Christmas (song) | Christmas Specials Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Publisher: Irving Berlin Music Co. "White Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Irving Berlin , reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. Accounts vary as to when and where Berlin wrote the song. One story is that he wrote it in 1940, poolside at the Biltmore hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. He often stayed up all night writing — he told Norman Wisdom, who added to the lyrics and claimed co-authorship, "Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I've ever written — heck, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!" The first public performance of the song was also by Crosby, on his NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall on Christmas Day, 1941 and the recording is not believed to have survived.

He recorded it with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers for Decca Records in just 18 minutes on May 29, 1942, and it was released on July 30 as part of an album of six 78-rpm songs from the film Holiday Inn . At first, Crosby did not see anything special about it. He just said "I don't think we have any problems with that one, Irving." Contents [ show ] Bing Crosby version The song initially performed poorly and was overshadowed by the film's first hit song: "Be Careful, It's my Heart". By the end of October 1942, however, it topped the "Your Hit Parade" chart. It remained in that position until well into the new year. (It has often been noted that the mix of melancholy — "just like the ones I used to know" — with comforting images of home — "where the treetops glisten" — resonated especially strongly with listeners during World War II. The Armed Forces Network was flooded with requests for the song.) In 1942 alone, Crosby's recording spent eleven weeks on top of the Billboard charts.

The original version also hit number one on the Harlem Hit Parade for three weeks, Crosby's first-ever appearance on the black-oriented chart. Re-released by Decca, the single returned to the #1 spot during the holiday seasons of 1945 and 1946 (on the chart dated January 4, 1947), thus becoming the only single with three separate runs at the top of the U.S. charts. The recording became a chart perennial, reappearing annually on the pop chart twenty separate times before Billboard Magazine created a distinct Christmas chart for seasonal releases. Following its prominence in Holiday Inn, the ong won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In the film, Bing Crosby sang it as a duet with actress Marjorie Reynolds, though her voice was dubbed by Martha Mears. This now-familiar scene was not the moviemakers' initial plan; in the script as originally conceived, Reynolds, not Crosby, was to sing it. The familiar version of the song most often heard today is not the one Crosby recorded in 1942.

He was called to Decca studios on March 18, 1947, to re-record the track; the 1942 master had become damaged due to its frequent use. Efforts were made to exactly reproduce the original recording session, and Crosby was again backed by the Trotter Orchestra and the Darby Singers. Even so, there are subtle differences in the orchestration, most notably the addition of a celesta and flutes to brighten up the introduction. Crosby was dismissive of his role in the song's success, saying later that "a jackdaw with a cleft palate could have sung it successfully." But Crosby was associated with it for the rest of his career. Another Crosby vehicle — the 1954 musical White Christmas — was the highest-grossing film of 1954. Cover versions Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra & chorus recorded the song at Manhattan Center, New York City, on July 15, 1952.

It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4910 (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10779 and JO 420. The Drifters' 1954 cover of the song showcased the talents of lead singer Clyde McPhatter and the bass of Bill Pinkney. Their recording of it peaked at #2 on Billboard’s R&B chart in December 1954, and returned to the same chart in the next two years. In December 1955, it became the Drifters' first of 34 singles to register in the mainstream Hot 100 chart. For decades, the Drifters' version was primarily heard on R&B radio stations, getting little exposure elsewhere. It received a boost in the early 1990s, when it was prominently featured in the film Home Alone during a scene in which Kevin, the lead character, is applying his father's aftershave while mouthing the lyrics. Radio stations formats as diverse as oldies, adult contemporary, Top 40, and country began playing the Drifters' version.

It was later featured in the film The Santa Clause . Andy Williams charted on the Christmas Singles chart in 1963 (#1) and 1967 (#22) with his version. The B-Side was his version of The Christmas Song . Michael Bolton covered the song on his 1992 album Timeless: The Classics. In 2000, Linda Ronstadt recorded the song for A Merry Little Christmas. Appearances in Christmas specials White Christmas Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 69 out of 73 people found the following review useful: ".........just like the ones we used to know." from Buffalo, New York 11 August 2005 By 1954 the song White Christmas had become such a timeless classic that it was inevitable that a film would be made around it. And of course the star would be none other than Bing Crosby. But who to star with him. Originally this was to be the third Irving Berlin outing for Bing and Fred Astaire. Then Donald O'Connor was to co-star, but finally Danny Kaye teamed with Der Bingle. Proved to be a felicitous combination.

By then Rosemary Clooney had worked in a few films well and more importantly, she had clicked with Crosby on the radio. Bing had teamed with several girl singers over the years, like Connee Boswell, Frances Langford, Mary Martin, Trudy Erwin, Carole Richards, Peggy Lee and a trio of sisters named Andrews. But he always said Rosemary Clooney was it for him and besides Mary Martin, the only other one who did became a leading lady for him. It's not remembered because of the success of her solo career, but Rosemary Clooney started as a duo with her sister Betty who retired early to raise a family. So with Vera-Ellen as her sister in the movie, that was an aspect of the plot Rosemary could handle with ease. The plot such as it is involves Bing and Danny as a song and dance duo who've expanded into the production end of show business. Through a little bit of a con game worked by Vera Ellen, the two meet a singing sister act like the Clooney sisters were. The sisters turn out to be headed to Vermont to work at a resort and the smitten guys go along with them. Problem is there ain't any snow there.

It's an unheard of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in early December. And the place is owned by Crosby and Kaye's former commander from World War II, played by Dean Jagger. He's about to lose his shirt and his pride. So our intrepid quartet go to work. Irving Berlin's score for White Christmas is about half new songs and the other half from previous scores. That's how it was when you got Irving to work for you. Listen carefully even to the background music. You will not hear one note of a non-Berlin song. One of those songs was a personal favorite of mine, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep. I recall in grade school in Brooklyn it was a song that the teachers had us sing in the school assemblies. Little did I know that it was introduced by the guy who proved to be my favorite entertainer. It's a patented philosophical Bing Crosby song that he did best and it serves as a ballad to woo and win Rosie. Bing sings it and then Rosie joins him in the reprise. Danny Kaye has two good numbers.

The first The Best Things Happen While Your Dancing is clearly originally for Fred Astaire, though Kaye and Vera Ellen make a lovely couple on the dance floor. The Choreography number I think was also done for Astaire, but here dancer John Brascia does the complicated dance routine while Kaye sings. I'm sure Astaire would have handled both jobs had the film been made with him. All the stars do the Minstrel Show/Mandy number, but Vera Ellen really shines in it. She was a great dancer, really sparkled in every film she did. Besides Sisters, Rosemary Clooney has a grand torch ballad that sold a few platters for her in Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me. She had a wonderful singing voice and the most impeccable diction of any female singer ever. You don't miss one throbbing word on any of her ballads. White Christmas was Paramount's first film done in their wide screen process called VistaVision. And of course it was proper that their number one star for over 20 years be in this film. Of course jokes about Bing's derrière and the wide screen got into the repertoire of a certain comedian named Hope.

Just like the song that inspired it, White Christmas has proved to be a timeless holiday classic and will remain so. Was the above review useful to you? 71 out of 78 people found the following review useful: Sometimes the audience knows better than the critics! from Portland, Oregon 11 November 1999 Over the years, I've read a number of professional critics' reviews of this film; almost all were mildly to severely negative. And here's the interesting thing: I don't disagree with most of the individual carps. Yes, the movie is a piece of fluff. Yes,the usually dependable Danny Kaye is a bit weak in his performance. Yes, the plot mechanism for inserting many of the production numbers is lame. Heck, even the continuity is poor...I myself have discovered three noticeable continuity fluffs. But here's the thing. The movie works, anyway!!! Bing and Danny nevertheless make a likeable "Mutt and Jeff" duo. The supporting cast all holds their own, from a radiant (and surprisingly voluptuous) Rosemary Clooney, to the astoundingly agile Vera Ellen, to Dean Jagger's Patton-like General Waverly...they all hit their marks very well.

The plot-line is unbelievable. Who cares? This is a feel-good Christmas Movie, for cryin' out loud! The production numbers are sheer fun, the plot doesn't get in the way of all the beauty and great music, the actors are obviously having a good time, and we're all allowed to window-peep on the shenanigans. This is the PERFECT movie to put on after Macy's Parade, while all those who don't like football are helping prep for the big Turkey Day meal. You sneak a bit of dressing or cranberry sauce, and watch a production number. The plot is so user-friendly, missing five minutes here and there doesn't hurt. Treat yourself. Discover why millions of views have made this movie a holiday favorite, despite the critics' opinions! Was the above review useful to you? 68 out of 79 people found the following review useful: I'm dreaming of... WHITE CHRISTMAS! from North Carolina 19 November 2000 I absolutely ADORE this movie! Have since the first time I saw it! Sure... some may classify it as simply a "feel-good" movie, but what's wrong with that?

Some may also classify it as pure schmaltz, but the movie truly does have it's sad points... like the priceless look on General Waverly's face whenever he enters the room where everyone who had been under his division is awaiting his arrival! The movie has a truly wonderful musical score, not to mention some VERY kick butt dancing! Bing Crosby is charming as Bob Wallace, a calm and reserved, yet witty and delightful and wise-cracking, and somewhat cynical kind of guy. Bing truly performed to his greatest. And his vocal talent is enormous, not to mention evident throughout the entire movie! It's a real treat to see him crack up when he and Danny Kaye are performing their rendition of "Sisters"! Danny Kaye is hilarious as Phil Davis, the foil to calm and cool Bob. Phil, too, is full of wise-cracks, and very intent on getting Bob to settle down. Danny gave such a life to his character, portraying him like no other!

His best one liner was when a young blonde with voice like nails on a chalk board says to him (after his phoney engagment to Judy) "I sure wish it would happen to me!") to which he replies "So do I!" Rosemary Clooney is absolutely riveting as Betty Haynes, the older of the two Haynes sisters. She is the most calm and most subdued. She is looking for her "knight on the white horse" in life. Rosemary played Betty to the fullest, making her every bit as believable as you could imagine! And that voice... GOLDEN! A gift from God! It's a true treasure to see her in her solo "Love (You Didn't Do Right By Me)". She's absolutely marvelous and extremely talented. Vera-Ellen is refreshingly delightful as Judy Haynes, the younger and more naive Haynes sister. Judy is also the dreamer of the two. Vera-Ellen does a wonderfully through job of portraying Judy! She is a perfect foil to her older sister. And those dancing stems... to see her dance in numbers like "Mandy" and "Choreography" is a real treat! How ANYONE could ever dance as well as she is beyond me!

She really did a great job in this movie, even better than her performance in "On The Town" with Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett. A GREAT MOVIE!!!! GREAT CAST CHEMISTRY!!!! GREAT MUSIC!!!! GREAT DANCING!!!! WATCH IT AND YOU WILL SOON BE DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! Was the above review useful to you? 55 out of 61 people found the following review useful: Count me in with the saps who absolutely love this movie. Author: bobj-3 13 October 2001 "White Christmas" is guilty of many of the sins catalogued by other commentators: its got a sappy story line, predictable plot twists, it plays outrageously for sentiment and patriotism (not your usual Christmas theme!). But I confess to having loved it from the first moment I saw it nearly a half century ago.

I, too, like many, make it a point to view it every Christmas season, along with much better holiday fare such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "The Wizard of Oz," and "Miracle on 34th Street." I think, contrary to many folks, that Danny Kaye succeeds in the second lead role better than Fred Astaire did in "Holiday Inn," and while he isn't given an opportunity for his patented zaniness, he adds a thoroughgoing charm to the role that sometimes the rather stiff Astaire lacks. Rosemary Clooney is lovely in the rather thankless role of the practical sister and was at the peak of her genius as a pop singer, Vera-Ellen does her usually charming thing, and Crosby! The master implants his genius in virtually every frame. In supporting roles veteran character actor Dean Jagger is splendid as the general, while Mary Wickes steals every scene she's in as the nosy hotel housekeeper, Emma. The singing and dancing are first-rate (even without Astaire), and the songs by Irving Berlin are among his very best, including a number of tunes written especially for the film.

One that never ceases to charm me is the trifle, "Snow," sung by our four stars in the dining car of the railroad train bound from Florida to Vermont. What a magical moment, among many in this thoroughly delightful, if flawed, jewel. Was the above review useful to you? 34 out of 40 people found the following review useful: This Is Definitely My Favorite of the Classic Holiday Films! from USA 3 November 2003 I know, we've heard it all before, how the film, Holiday Inn is superior to this offering, but you'd never convince me of that! I adore this film, it's fun, innocent, lively, has wonderful tunes and a top-notch cast. My holiday viewing will never be complete until I've watched this film at least a half dozen times and probably more during the holiday season. It's one of those 'feel good films' and this Christmas fanatic highly recommends settling in with some good snacks and simply enjoying yourself and this true holiday classic. The DVD is a must-have, as it offers a wonderful commentary with the late-great Rosemary Clooney. Was the above review useful to you?

25 out of 27 people found the following review useful: Christmas classic set in Vermont ski lodge. from Austin, TX 10 December 1999 White Christmas is one of those movies you can just enjoy without having to think about why the characters act the way they do. The plot is very thin, and seems to be written just to hold the musical numbers together, but it makes for a very enjoyable movie indeed. Viewing this film has become a holiday tradition in my family, and it is great fun to quote memorable lines and sing along with Bing, Danny, Vera-Ellen, and of course, the incomparable Rosemary Clooney. We have a theater here in Austin that regularly shows classic films, and the year they screened White Christmas, there was a packed house, and everyone sang along with every song and yelled out lines, sort of like Rocky Horror Picture Show without the dressing up. White Christmas is just a fun movie, and I highly recommend it for holiday viewing. The Irving Berlin songs, the dance numbers, and yes, the "schmaltz" are just the right combination to put even the Grinchiest person in the Christmas spirit. Was the above review useful to you?

22 out of 27 people found the following review useful: If this isn't the all-time great Christmas movie, it's pretty close! from Cherry Hill, New Jersey 24 September 1999 Sorry, Jimmy! My apologies, Alistair! My all-time favorite Christmas was, is, and always will be, "White Christmas." First of all, there's that wonderful Irving Berlin score. "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" and "Sisters" have become standards, of course. But, towering above them all, is Bing Crosby's definitive performance of the beloved Christmas favorite that he practically owned. All the performances are top-drawer, what with Bing, Danny Kaye (In a role meant for Donald O'Connor), Rosie Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, and Mary Wickes, who, as you can see here, was playing nasty old things even when she was a nasty young thing! Corny, syrupy, kitsch. Perhaps it is all of that, to some. But, to unashamed sentimentalists like me, "White Christmas" will always be THE all-time great Christmas movie, particularly when viewed by the whole family, on Christmas Day, in front of the fireplace.

God bless Bing, Berlin, and company, for making a lot of Holidays that much happier, including those of the Sorrentino family! Was the above review useful to you? 15 out of 16 people found the following review useful: Merry Christmas thanks to Irving Berlin from New York 18 January 2008 The music of Irving Berlin, one of America's most distinguished composers of the 20th century, is at the center of this pleasant holiday film, that if one is to judge by the comments submitted to this forum, is a perennial favorite of audiences that discover this charming movie, or just go back to visit from time to time. Directed by Michael Curtiz, a versatile man; he was at ease with drama as well as comedy, or musicals. He shows a light touch that helps make this a cherished film for movie fans of all ages. Based on material by another great team, Norman Panama, Norman Krasna and Melvin Frank, the movie is light as a feather.

The film is sort of a variation on the theme, "let's put on a show", or even, "if we stage it, they will come", we know how it will end, but we feel good, and enjoy it even though we know the plot by heart. The main reason for watching, besides Mr. Berlin's wonderful tunes, is hearing those standard songs delivered by the likes of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, who were at the top of their careers. They had such wonderful and melodious voices, they enhance the songs they interpret. The story is just a pretext to bring together the talented principals plus Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, and the marvelous Mary Wickes, in a film that will delight anyone, anytime, but especially at Christmas. Was the above review useful to you? 16 out of 20 people found the following review useful: a good holiday movie from australia 15 April 2004 It seems every Christmas this is one movie I must watch, and never tire of it. The cast I thought was mismatched, Danny Kaye was a poor substitute for Donald O'Connor, yet he makes the character he plays so likeable that you can't help but be drawn to his character.

Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby dressed as girls has to be seen to be believed. They make the " sisters " song take on a whole other meaning. This is a picture that shows the magic of Christmas. The last scene with the general brings a tear to the eye. Once again this proves that musicals leave you with that special feeling. Was the above review useful to you? 18 out of 24 people found the following review useful: To brighten your Holiday this year from United States 25 November 2003 "White Christmas" has to be one of the most wonderful holiday musical films ever made. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney give great performances and Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best song in the film. After watching this you'll feel a great amount of holiday spirit. The snow, the songs, the music. You just get a good feeling. Watch it, your holiday will brighten. :-) Was the above review useful to you?

Page 1 of 18: White Christmas [Original Soundtrack] - Bing Crosby | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic White Christmas [Original Soundtrack] google+ AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann White Christmas, or, as the songwriter who instigated the project would have it, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, was the big holiday movie of 1954 (and, ultimately, the highest grossing picture released during that year). It was certainly a familiar entertainment, distinctly reminiscent of Holiday Inn (1942), with which it shared not only that setting at an inn in New England and the song "White Christmas," but also a full song score by Berlin combining newly written numbers and old standards. The big difference was that Bing Crosby , again leading the cast, was paired not with Fred Astaire , but with Danny Kaye . Their romantic interests, respectively, were Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen (her singing voice dubbed by Gloria Wood ). Typically for the time, this soundtrack album consists not of recordings taken directly from the film itself, but of studio recordings made separately. Not so typically, there has been a major substitution in the cast.

Clooney , an exclusive Columbia Records recording artist, was contractually prohibited from appearing on the album (she made her own solo disc of the songs), and Decca Records instead had Peggy Lee fill in. Lee provides an interesting contrast. For example, her "Love You Didn't Do Right by Me" has much more of a blues feel than Clooney 's. But Clooney , who coaxed her retired sister Betty Clooney back to duet with her on the witty "Sisters," has it all over the double-tracked Lee , whose version has none of the humor of the Clooney Sisters ' rendition, and doesn't even make much sense. Crosby is forced to sing "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" alone (it was a duet with Clooney in the film), but manages. Kaye is his usual zany self on the novelty tune "Choreography" and partners with Crosby well on a couple of medleys. The new "Snow" and the inevitable title song, done as quartets by Crosby , Kaye , Lee , and Trudy Stevens (who replaced Wood on the recording), give the score its holiday flavor.

The album does not represent the best efforts of any of these talented artists, but it is a solid, reliable piece of entertainment, just as the movie it accompanies is. Track Listing Top 12 Christmas Song Performances In Movies Top 12 Christmas Song Performances In Movies Taryn Parrish December 18, 2013 8:00 am I don’t want a lot for Christmas , there is just one thing I need: Christmas songs performed by various movie characters. In no particular order, here are some of the best… 1. Mean Girls (2004) – ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ 2004 was a bright time and a right time for Lindsay Lohan, mathletes, Glen Coco, and army pants and flip flops. This holiday talent show performance by The Plastics has it all: pleather, a stage mom and a boom box to the face. 2. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) – ‘A Holly Jolly Christmas’ This endearing performance is pure commercialized Christmas!

There’s Santa, Rudolph, elves square dancing, presents, a giant tree, mistletoe, tinsel, and the most classic Christmas icon – the abominable snowman. This holly jolly song is performed by the film’s narrator, Sam the Snowman, who is actually folk singer Burl Ives in real life! This adorable performance reaffirms that Christmas really is the best time of the year. 3. Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – ‘What’s This?’ What’s this, what’s this? This is a beautiful performance that you can enjoy at Halloween and at Christmas. Jack perfectly captures how it feels to experience Christmas for the first time if you come from a terrifying, nightmarish world. 4. Home Alone (1990) – ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ Here is an amazing performance by the one and only Kevin McCallister. When the wet bandits threaten to burglarize his home, Kevin stages an elaborate party to fool them into thinking he’s not alone. Brings me back to my high school days! This party has all the essentials: turntables, string dancing, empty cups, fake gambling and a cardboard cutout of Michael Jordan.

This clip is hard to come by, so please enjoy the scene below starting at 0:34, ya filthy animals. 5. Elf (2003) – ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ One of the most endearingly inappropriate scenes in the film, Buddy the elf joins his co-worker Jovie in the bathroom for a secret duet. Can you blame him? Bathrooms always have the best acoustics. Keep your eyes peeled for Zooey! 6. Meet Me In St Louis (1944) – ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ This classic Christmas song made its debut in this lovely film about a family who is preparing to leave their beloved hometown of St. Louis, Missouri for New York City. In this scene, Esther (the incomparable Judy Garland) tries to comfort her younger sister Tootie, who is distraught at the thought of leaving home. Esther’s pure, beautiful voice will have you tearing up – just like that little baby whose mama sang “My Heart Can’t Tell You No.” If the song itself doesn’t get you, Tootie’s emotional breakdown via snowmen murder will. 7.

Scrooged (1988) – ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’ One of the things I enjoy most in life is when movie characters break that fourth wall and speak directly to the audience. Even better than speaking is singing, and that’s what Scrooged delivers as the credits roll. Is it explicitly a Christmas song? No, but put a little love in your heart and just accept it as part of this list. This performance is random, beautiful, interactive, and it’s the closest most of us will ever come to speaking with Bill Murray. 8. Love Actually (2003) – ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ An outrageously talented pre-teen, a gospel-esque choir, some b-boy dancers, a potential political scandal and a little drummer boy to boot! This entertaining and heart-warming performance raised the bar for school Christmas pageants everywhere. Sadly, most parents had to sit through patchy renditions of Joy to the World on recorder flutes. *Honorable mention goes to rock and roll legend Billy Mack 9.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) – ‘Welcome Christmas’ Here’s a song for the small and the tall who know that Christmas still comes without any toys at all. Welcome Christmas is performed by the Whos at the end of the story as they celebrate Christmas in all its glory. 10. Holiday Inn (1942) – ‘White Christmas’ Remember the days before cell phones and television when we used to just sit by the fire, play piano and sing for hours on end? Me neither, but there’s something about this performance that makes you want to put your phone on airplane mode and give this quality time thing a shot. Enjoy the musical stylings of Jim (Bing Crosby) and Linda (Marjorie Reynolds) – in color ! 11. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) – ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ & ‘Auld Lang Syne’ In one of the most touching scenes in Christmas movie history, the town of Bedford Falls comes together to help out their dear friend George Bailey. As a viewer you can feel the love in the air as they sing in celebration of Christmas, community and family. 12.

Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) – ‘One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas’ As we all know, every Muppet performance is amazing . This performance in particular made the cut for one major reason: Kermit figure skates! It may only be for a brief moment, but nothing puts a smile on your face like watching those skinny green felt legs whirl about. Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to YOU! 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby from the 1942 movie 'Holiday Inn' - YouTube 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby from the 1942 movie 'Holiday Inn' Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Dec 17, 2012 This is a photo montage of the classic 1942 movie 'Holiday Inn', which is one of my favourite old Christmas movies. The music is also sung by Bing Crosby (who stars in this movie) & is called 'White Christmas'.

'Holiday Inn' was where Bing Crosby originally sang 'White Christmas' before he sang it again in the 1954 movie also called 'White Christmas'. I do not own any of the copyrights to any of the photos or music, so to whomever it may concern please do not sue me. Thank-you, enjoy & Merry Christmas! Category White Christmas (1954) White Christmas (1954) Studio Line: Paramount Pictures White Christmas is a treasury of Irving Berlin classics, among them "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "Sisters," "Blue Skies," and the beloved holiday song, "White Christmas." Two talented song-and-dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. One winter, they join forces with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) and trek to Vermont for a white Christmas. Of course, there's the requisite fun with the ladies, but the real adventure starts when Crosby & Kaye discover that the inn is run by their old army general who's now in financial trouble. And the result is the stuff dreams are made of.

Director: Michael Curtiz Cast: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Song-"Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep", 1955. DVD: Widescreen 1.85:1/16x9; audio English DD 5.1 & Digital Mono; French Digital Mono; subtitles English; single sided - dual layered; 19 chapters; rated NR; 120 min.; $29.99; street date 11/21/00. Supplements: Retrospective Interview with Rosemary Clooney; Commentary By Rosemary Clooney; 2 Theatrical Trailers. Purchase: DVD | CD album - Bing Crosby Picture/Sound/Extras: B/C+/C To some, the question may hearken to the classic query �Who�s buried in Grant�s tomb?� When someone asks �In what film did the song �White Christmas� first appear?�, the reply often comes back as �White Christmas�. However, that wasn�t the case. �White Christmas� initially bowed in 1942�s Holiday Inn .

Its continued popularity led to its inclusion in 1954�s White Christmas, a semi-remake of the older film. I refer to WC as a �semi-remake� because its connections to the earlier movie are mildly tenuous at times. In HI, a couple of performers tussled over mutually-interesting women. One of them retires from showbiz to open his own lodge in the northeast US; eventually he combines the two lives and turns it into the Holiday Inn, a showpiece that only is open on different holidays. Right off the bat, WC seems like a completely different film, as it starts during World War II. Our boys are enjoying a brief Christmas Eve entertainment during their ongoing battles with the Hun, a production that stars hotshot performer (and then-current captain) Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and also features wannabe song-and-dance-man (and then-current private) Phil Davis (Danny Kaye). The segment sets up the characters, as Wallace and Davis start a connection as partners, and we also meet their beloved chief, General Waverly (Dean Jagger). After the war, the film jumps ahead about a decade.

Wallace and Davis have indeed become a hugely-successful musical team, although their lives lack romance. Well, Wallace�s does, at least, and Davis tries to change that when they meet two performing sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) Haynes. Through some meddling by Davis, he manipulates Wallace into following them to Vermont, where the sisters are to perform at a lodge. By an amazing coincidence, this inn just happens to be owned by one General Waverly. It seems the joint isn�t doing too well - largely due to unseasonably-warm weather - and the old man�s come upon semi-hard times. Romance and helpfulness combine through the rest of the movie as we head toward the inevitable happy ending. On its own, I suppose that WC isn�t a bad piece of work, but as someone who�s much better acquainted with HI, I find it nearly unwatchable. The later film seems so inferior to the original that it just can�t compete. Despite the presence of all that performance talent plus director Michael Curtiz ( Casablanca ), the result is never anything more than a joyless attempt to mine the territory that worked so well twelve years prior.

The filmmakers really should have ventured into new territory. Clearly they wanted to capitalize on the value of �White Christmas� as a song, but there�s no reason why the story itself needed to stick so closely to the plot of HI. I recognize that it alters the material to a minor degree, but it remains the same framework. Everything about WC pales in comparison to what was seen in the first film. Crosby and Kaye make a decent team, but they can�t approach the marvelous chemistry displayed by Crosby and Astaire. It seems unsurprising to learn that Kaye was actually the producers� third choice for the role after Astaire and Donald O�Connor passed on the part. Kaye always was an engaging performer, but he adds little zip to the role. Both female leads are competent, but the relative lack of spark found in the film makes them less effective. Probably the area in which WC most suffers when compared with HI stems from the many musical numbers. In HI, these production pieces were actually quite entertaining, even for an avowed showtune-hater like myself. The same positive sentiment did not apply to these parts of WC. Frankly, I found them to be interminable and just wanted them to end.

On the positive side, the movie look lovely and lavish, and all of the performers are always competent, even if they often lack much pizzazz. For those who enjoy that kind of music, Irving Berlin�s tunes remain solidly melodic and winning, and at least this picture�s production numbers lack the less-than-politically-correct atmosphere found in some parts of Holiday Inn. Nonetheless, White Christmas is not a film that I can recommend. It�s a passably-entertaining work at times, but there are many other holiday movies that offer much greater pleasure. The DVD: White Christmas appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. While not without flaws, I felt the picture usually looked quite solid, especially when one considers the age of the material. Sharpness generally seemed fairly crisp and well-defined. Some softness could interfere with the image on occasion; these concerns mainly affected wider shots, but a few close-ups appeared mildly fuzzy as well. However, most of the movie seemed adequately accurate and concise.

Moir� effects cropped up due to some checked clothing but otherwise were minor, and I detected few artifacts from the anamorphic downconversion on my 4X3 TV. Print flaws seemed wonderfully absent. I saw occasional signs of grit and speckles, and there�s a little grain from time to time - mainly due to some process photography - but the picture appeared nicely clean and vibrant for its age. Colors occasionally came across as slightly muddy and runny, but these instances were rare and they were easily outnumbered by the scenes that displayed vibrant and vivacious hues. Some of the production numbers featured a nicely varied palette and the tones were reproduced cleanly and brightly. For example, during the �Minstrel� piece, I found simply stunning reds and blues. Black levels also could be quite impressive, as they appeared consistently deep and rich. Shadow detail looked slightly heavy at times but generally seemed clear and appropriately opaque. All in all, White Christmas presented a fine image. The film�s remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack wasn�t as impressive but it seemed acceptable as a whole. The soundfield seemed like glorified mono, as the imaging rarely strayed too far from the center channel.

Mainly it was the movie�s songs that emanated from the side speakers; they boasted some mild stereo separation, but they never seemed terribly broad or engaging. The surrounds largely provided very gentle reinforcement of the music. Audio quality seemed acceptable but unspectacular. Dialogue appeared somewhat edgy at times, but it usually came across as fairly natural and distinct with no concerns related to intelligibility. Effects were similarly bland but reasonably clear and realistic. The music had a few more concerns, unfortunately. Songs seemed slightly distorted at times, and the music displayed excessive warmth during much of the film. There was an underlying boomy tone to many of the tunes that seemed unnatural. The DVD also provides the movie�s original monaural soundtrack, and I examined it to determine if it sounded better than the 5.1 mix. It didn�t. Yes, the music lacked the strange bassiness of the 5.1 track, but instead the songs appeared brittle and thin. It�s a tradeoff; whichever one you select will likely depend on personal preference. Ultimately, I found the overall soundtrack to be fairly average for the era. This DVD packs in a few supplements, starting with a running audio commentary from actress Rosemary Clooney.

Although I didn�t much enjoy the movie, I looked forward to this track because Clooney seemed able to provide a unique perspective on the film and the era. Unfortunately, the resulting commentary is deadly dull and adds extremely little in the way of useful information. The vast majority of the track passes without any remarks from Clooney; her statements are few and far between. Even when she does speak, it�s rarely to offer any details about the production or anything insightful. Instead, she usually just laughs or echoes what the characters in the movie say; she doesn�t seem to understand that she�s supposed to tell us stories or details and not just mutter an occasional phrase as she watches the picture. Every once in a while, Clooney gives us some nice information, usually about Crosby and her relationship with him. For serious fans of White Christmas, Clooney�s commentary may merit a listen, but anyone less than absolutely in love with the movie or its cast should skip this dull and frustrating track. We get more from Clooney in another area. She provides a �Retrospective Interview� that lasts 16 minutes and 40 seconds. This piece intercuts comments from Clooney with movie clips and connecting remarks from a narrator.

I thought this program was much more effective than was the commentary, mainly because it condenses the information into one neatly-package piece. I disliked Clooney�s commentary mostly because we hear so little over such a long period; Clooney provides as much information during the commentary as she does here, but the format made it unwieldy. That�s not a problem during the retrospective. Clooney adds some nice details about her career, her costars and the production; none of her statements are absolutely fascinating, but they provide a nice complement to the film. Lastly, the DVD includes two trailers. We find one for the movie�s original theatrical release. It�s distinguished mainly by the fact it often touts the use of VistaVision back when widescreen films were new. There�s also a re-release trailer; it seems to have come from a period not too many years after the movie�s original 1954 issue, but I couldn�t establish exactly when it appeared. White Christmas is considered a holiday classic by some, but I don�t think it deserves that designation. At best, it�s a moderately watchable rehash of a superior movie, 1942�s Holiday Inn.

WC never is a truly bad film, but it seems consistently uninspired and bland. The DVD offers fairly solid picture plus mediocre sound and extras. Fans of the film will probably be pleased with this DVD, but others looking for entertaining Christmas fare should search elsewhere. <map name="boxmap-b1"><area shape="rect" coords="350, 45, 468, 60" href="" ><area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="" ></map><img src="" width="468" height="60" border="0" usemap="#boxmap-b1" alt="Amazon.com Platinum Visa Card"> Holiday Inn (1942) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error At an inn which is only open on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer.

Director: From $9.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 46 titles created 02 Oct 2012 a list of 36 titles created 16 Dec 2012 a list of 21 titles created 12 Mar 2013 a list of 29 titles created 25 Nov 2013 a list of 46 titles created 19 Nov 2015 Search for " Holiday Inn " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Memorable Looks From the Golden Globes Red Carpet From gorgeous gowns to famous friendships, take a stroll down memory lane with our gallery of unforgettable Golden Globes red-carpet photos. Don't miss our live coverage of the Globes beginning at 4 p.m. PST on Jan. 8 in our Golden Globes section. Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations. See more awards » Photos A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

Director: Michael Curtiz A food writer who has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas. Director: Peter Godfrey An angel in human form enters the life of a bishop in order to help him build a new cathedral and repair his fractured marriage. Director: Henry Koster A young widow is romanced by a sales clerk whom she inadvertently got fired. Director: Don Hartman Youthful Father Chuck O'Malley led a colorful life of sports, song, and romance before joining the Roman Catholic clergy, but his level gaze and twinkling eyes make it clear that he knows ... See full summary » Director: Leo McCarey Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand each other, without realizing that they are falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal. Director: Ernst Lubitsch A shoplifter and her prosecuter fall in love, creating tensions in their family lives. Director: Mitchell Leisen A nightclub performer hires a naive chorus girl to become his new dance partner to make his former partner jealous and to prove he can make any partner a star.

Director: Charles Walters A homeless New Yorker moves into a mansion and along the way he gathers friends to live in the house with him. Before he knows it, he is living with the actual home owners. Director: Roy Del Ruth Jed Potter looks back on a love triangle conducted over the course of years and between musical numbers. Dancer Jed loves showgirl Mary, who loves compulsive nightclub-opener Johnny, who ... See full summary » Directors: Stuart Heisler, Mark Sandrich Stars: Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Joan Caulfield Edit Storyline Lovely Linda Mason has crooner Jim Hardy head over heels, but suave stepper Ted Hanover wants her for his new dance partner after femme fatale Lila Dixon gives him the brush. Jim's supper club, Holiday Inn, is the setting for the chase by Hanover and manager Danny Reed. The music's the thing. Written by Steve Fenwick <scf@w0x0f.com> 26 November 1942 (Mexico) See more » Also Known As: 15 Dias de Prazer See more » Filming Locations: Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording) Color: Did You Know?

Trivia The set for this film was reused by Paramount 12 years later for the musical White Christmas (1954), also starring Bing Crosby and again with songs composed by Irving Berlin . See more » Goofs During the opening shot Ted Hanover gets out of a cab in front of the night club. Three little boys are playing the harmonica and dancing. They are dancing to "Singing A Song Of Freedom" which Jim Hardy does not write until the Fourth of July more than a year later. See more » Quotes Featured in Bamboozled (2000) See more » Soundtracks Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin Sung by Bing Crosby offscreen during a montage on the farm (United States) – See all my reviews In Holiday Inn it isn't Bing Crosby or Fred Astair that makes the movie outstanding, but rather the relatively unknown "B" movie star of the time, Marjorie Reynolds. As you watch this movie you can "feel" the mood that Marjorie is portraying at the time, just by the look on her face.

For example, during the the "Easter" scene, her eyes and smiles say it all, you can see she is in love, and as she sings "White Christmas" at the end you can feel the sadness of her character - throughout the entire movie she says more with her facial expressions then the most popular movie stars do today in their entire careers... If you love truly good acting, Holiday Inn will make you smile and make you cry, it will bring back memories of a time when ladies could truly dance in high heel shoes, we don't see that type of dancing these days in movies. Picture quality, sound and special effects are not of primary importance in these kinds of films, these are the kind that rely on your own imagination and feelings, much in the way you do when you read a good book. These older movies serve up so much good feelings they could be used to replace prescription meds for those feeling bad. 53 of 56 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Question: The song 'White Christmas' first featured in what film?
Answer: Holiday Inn